Acne on the Back: Here’s How to Get Rid of It

Back acne (bacne) is considered nasty by most, and can seriously detract from anyone’s self-confidence. Figuring out how to get rid of back acne to achieve a clear complexion presents us with a hurdle.

Pimples can be a test to treat, regardless of where you get them. Unfortunately, getting pimples isn’t constrained to your youngster years, as skin break out can occur at any age for an assortment of reasons. Pimples can show up on any piece of your body, including your back.

Causes Of Back Acne

Before you can learn how to get rid of back acne, you need to know why it’s there in the first place, and arming yourself with such knowledge will put you in position to prevent its reformation after you have cured it.

Back acne forms when oil, dirt and various types of debris clog a pore on your back. The opening of the pore becomes plugged, spurring a buildup of oil and dead skin cells, which then swells to accommodate the size of the growing pus. Resulting in those red and inflamed acne lesions we know.

Furthermore, when the hair follicle wall swells out, it forms a whitehead pimple, and when the clogged pore gets exposed to air, blackhead pimples form.

Some common causes of acne are:

Genetics: Trouble with acne can be genetic, and run in your family.

Medications: acne can develop as a result or side effect of some medicines like certain antidepressants.

Hormones or hormonal changes in the teenage years are often the cause of acne, but for women past puberty, pimple outbreaks can be linked to hormonal changes that happen during menstruation and pregnancy.

Sweat, especially if it’s trapped under tight clothing, can trigger, and make acne worse.

Stress may not be a direct cause of acne, but it is a contributing factor.

Exercise: if your breakouts appear to be triggered by workouts, you might not be dealing with back acne, but with folliculitis (infected hair follicles).

Some research shows that foods you eat could be linked to an acne outbreak. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there is some evidence that certain carbohydrates, like white bread, and potato chips, are known to increase your blood sugar levels, and that can also contribute to acne. To others, dairy products might also be a trigger.

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How to Get Rid of Back acne

Start by implementing some day-to-day skincare methods that can help treat mild to moderate acne. In most cases, you can get rid of acne by making some lifestyle changes. Here are some things you can do to get rid of back acne:

Exfoliate Regularly

Our upper torso and back have more sebaceous glands than any other area of our body. This means that it produces more of the skin’s natural oil, increasing the likelihood of developing body acne in such areas.

Exfoliating on a regular basis is also important since the skin cells on the back may not slough off as efficiently as needed and that pile-up can aggravate acne. Try Proactive Acne Treatment.

Wear loose Fitting Clothing That Breathes

Any skin irritation, like sweat, can worsen outbreaks, making it important to stay away from tight clothing to minimize friction, especially when covered with sweat.

Certain clothing materials, like those that absorb sweat from the skin, will reduce irritation, and lighter colors and cotton are ideal, especially during workouts.

Furthermore, letting the sweat and dirt sit on your skin after a workout can be a big contributor to back acne. Shower as soon as you can after a workout, and also wash those sweaty workout clothes between sweat sessions.

Keep Hair Off Your Back

Long hair that extends to your back region may be adding oil and dirt to the skin on your back, causing acne outbreaks. Wash your hair regularly, and put it in a ponytail during sweat sessions.

Also, don’t allow conditioner or shampoo to run down your back when treating your hair, as ingredients in those products can contribute to clogged pores.

Try Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of a tree in Australia and has been used for years to treat a variety of skin issues. Today, you can find many lotions, cleansers, and creams containing the ingredient.

There is some evidence to suggest that tea tree oil might help in treating acne by killing extra bacteria.

Eat Healthily

You are what you eat, and an unhealthy diet can affect our bodies in a variety of ways. If you’re prone to acne, it is likely that certain foods could be triggering it.

Research shows that foods that cause your blood sugar to rise quickly (high on the glycemic index GI), may make acne worse.

You should avoid such foods that include white bread, white pasta and rice, and white potatoes, and practice eating a healthy, balanced diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, lean protein, and whole grains

Medicated Wash

You can find a cleansing wash that contains benzoyl peroxide, which is a powerful acne-fighting ingredient that breathes air into pores and kills acne.

Applying it regularly to the back will help reduce the infection and improve the appearance of lesions.

Topical Retinoids

Retinoids are a strong derivative of vitamin A and are very effective at treating bad acne breakouts. Applying a medicated retinoid cream to your infected area every night might help.

Be extra mindful of your sun exposure when using this type of product, as it’s known to make your skin more sensitive to the damaging ultraviolet rays.

Oral Antibiotics

Back skin is very thick, and breakouts can go deep below the surface and stay out of reach of topical creams. On noticing this, your doctor might prescribe oral antibiotics to target the infection from the inside-out. He might prescribe antibiotics such as tetracycline or minocycline.

Sometimes, prescription-strength medications are necessary to clear severe back acne, but harnessing the benefits offered by nature whenever possible is advised.

The soothing properties of Aloe Vera, for example, can provide relief for painful and cystic back acne. The problem is the difficulty in applying it to your back region.